Three more Canadian national team stars join Whitecaps FC

April 30, 201211:04 PM PDT

Vancouver Whitecaps FC announced today the addition of three Canadian women’s national team players, with defender Melanie Booth, and midfielders Kaylyn Kyle (pictured) and Brittany Timko all joining the club’s 2012 United Soccer Leagues (USL) W-League roster – pending Canadian Soccer Association (CSA) and USL approval.

The trio recently played for Canada during January’s CONCACAF Women’s Olympic Qualifying tournament at BC Place and are currently in Residency camp with the national team in Vancouver as they prepare for the 2012 Olympic Summer Games in London. All three players will be available for the home opener on May 18 at McLeod Athletic Park in Langley, hosted by Langley United Youth Soccer Association.

“We’re ecstatic to add players the quality of Melanie, Kaylyn and Brittany,” said Jesse Symons, Whitecaps FC women’s head coach. “Not only do they add an incredible amount of technical skill and ability to our side, but also a ton of experience and leadership that will greatly benefit our younger players.”

The team kicked off training on Monday as they begin preparations for their W-League season opener next Friday, May 13 on the island against Victoria Highlanders FC.

Melanie Booth

Booth, 27, returns for her second season with Whitecaps FC after first playing for the club during the 2010 W-League season, making four appearances and scoring two goals – including a goal in the W-League semifinals to help Whitecaps FC qualify for the W-League championship final. Booth has also played for several other W-League teams in her career. In 2009, she made 10 appearances for Eastern Conference club Boston Renegades, while in 2008 she made 10 appearances for Tampa Bay Hellenic. From 2003 to 2005, the Burlington, Ontario, native played for Toronto Lady Lynx, including 2005 when she scored seven goals and recorded two assists in 10 appearances.

Collegiately, Booth had an outstanding career playing National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) soccer at the University of Florida. In her four seasons of action, she was a three-time All-American, earning the accolade in 2003, 2004, and 2005. Additionally, she was also named to the All-Southeastern Conference (SEC) First Team in 2005, to the All-SEC Second Team in 2003 and 2004, and was on the All-SEC Freshman team in 2003.

Internationally, Booth has started 37 of her 62 appearances for Canada, scoring one goal and recording four assists. During the 2012 Women’s Olympic Qualifying tournament at BC Place in January, Booth started two of her three appearances, helping the Red and White to a silver medal and a spot at this summer’s 2012 Olympic Summer Games in London. On the youth level, Booth represented Canada with the U-20 national team.

Kaylyn Kyle

Kyle, 22, enters her sixth season with Whitecaps FC after last being with the club during the 2011 W-League playoffs, playing every minute of all three postseason matches and scoring two goals. During her career with Whitecaps FC, Kyle has started 21 of her 27 appearances, scoring four goals and recording five assists. Outside of her time with Vancouver, Kyle played for Piteå IF in the Swedish Damallsvenskan in 2009.

In 2006, Kyle excelled playing Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS) soccer at the University of Saskatchewan, making 14 appearances and scoring three goals with three assists. Additionally, Kyle was named Saskatchewan Soccer Association Youth Female Player of The Year in 2004, 2005 and 2006, and Senior Female Player of the Year in 2010 and 2011.

Internationally, Kyle has started 41 of her 54 appearances for Canada, scoring four goals and recording four assists. This past January, the native of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, appeared in all five matches for Canada at the 2012 Women’s Olympic Qualifying tournament at BC Place, starting three matches and scoring one goal. In 2011, Kyle started all three of Canada’s matches at the 2011 FIFA Women’s World Cup. On the youth side, the central midfielder represented Canada at the U-20 and U-17 levels.

Brittany Timko

Timko, 26, returns for her fifth season in Vancouver after last playing with Whitecaps FC during the 2006 W-League season. In total, the Coquitlam, BC, native has started 25 of her 26 appearances, scoring four goals and recording five assists. During her time with the ‘Caps, Timko has played on two W-League championship squads, winning the league title in 2004 and 2006. In addition to her time with Whitecaps FC, Timko played for German club SG Essen-Schönebeck in 2010, Swedish club Piteå IF with Kyle in 2009, and Australian club Melbourne Victory in the 2008-2009 season.

In college, Timko played NCAA soccer at the University of Nebraska. During her four seasons with the Huskers, she was named Big 12 Player of the Year three times, and was a Third-Team National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) All-American in 2004 and 2005. Additionally, she is one of less than 50 players with at least 40 goals and 40 assists in NCAA history.

Internationally, Timko is one of only nine women’s players to make 100 or more appearances for Canada. In total, she has started 75 of her 111 appearances, scoring four goals and recording seven assists. In January, the former Sport BC Junior Athlete of the Year started one of her three appearances for her country at the 2012 CONCACAF Women’s Olympic Qualifying tournament at BC Place, while last year she started one of two appearances at the 2011 FIFA Women’s World Cup. On the youth level, Timko played in two FIFA U-19 Women’s World Championship tournaments, including winning the Golden Boot as the top scorer at the 2004 tournament in Thailand, with seven goals in four matches. During her youth, Timko was a member of the BC Soccer Provincial Teams program and the National Training Centre program.

Whitecaps FC play their first home match against Colorado Rush on May 18 at Langley's McLeod Athletic Park, hosted by Langley United Youth Soccer Association. As in the past two seasons, Whitecaps FC will play their W-League home matches in various communities in British Columbia as part of the Whitecaps Women’s Soccer Series presented by Kia. Find the full Whitecaps FC 2012 W-League scheduleHERE.